October 31, 2016

OCT. 31, 2016 VOL. 48 ISSUE NO. 7

PORTLAND STATE SENATE CANDIDATE TALKS KEY ISSUES

THE POLITICAL DIVIDE IN MAINE

BY JOHNNA OSSIE | P 9

BY CARA DEROSE | P 4

ELECTION 101: THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

BY KRYSTEANA SCRIBNER | P 5

WHY MILLENNIALS HAVE THE LOWEST VOTER TURNOUT

BY RIVER PLOUFFE VOGEL | P 11

2 October 31, 2016 | THE FREE PRESS

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THE FREE PRESS | October 31, 2016 3

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EDITOR

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The 2016 Presidential election is almost here

You don’t have to have a strong interest in politics to understand how important and significant this election is—Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are both figures of authority that stand over American citizens in different ways. There are many things to be said about Trump, and to reiterate his lies and lack of education regarding political issues would just be a waste of time for you as the readers.

It’s obvious that he lacks control of his statements, and cannot seem to grasp the seriousness of this election.

It’s hard to understand how some people continue to be oblivious to this part of his character.Trump supporters are often quick to reflect this oblivious behavior we often see in Trump’s actions—the denial of hard evidence, supporting his “locker room talk”—by justifying how other presidents have done worse in the past.

The trouble is, those that see Hillary Clinton in office are quick to call her “crooked,” and perhaps she is.

It’s important that we try and analyze what kind of people are voting for each candidate, because even in the midst of a hateful and tension-filled political debate, every individual has one concern, and that’s for themselves and their families. America is, after all, a nation of what seems like selfish ideologies, and are quick to forget that America isn’t the center of the universe, but rather a small piece of the puzzle that is Earth.

So what makes these can-

didates so intriguing? Trump is the ideal “narcissist,” who is quick to lie and manipulate others into believing what he says. Clinton has a variety of scandals that have followed her through the election, and whether or not they hold any water has been unfound to date - or perhaps, found and dismissed.

In this election, people want a sense of safety and security instilled in their daily lives. Those that cannot make enough money to survive are hoping for a

international warfare.

This underbelly of America’s electorate will not just disappear if he is not elected. The population of those in his following will continue to escalate, and manifest itself in different ways.

There truly never has been a bigger gap of disagreements between two candidates.

Trump treats it like a reality TV show. The whole thing feels like a reality TV show.

The problem is that America is built on a system of fear. Panic and fear sell, of

“While we stay completely unbiased in our articles, we do not want to hide the fact that we are not pleased with the campaign of Trump.” president who can ease this daily struggle. Those who desire a pro-life campaign may be suaded by Trump, while those who believe a woman has a right to make her own decisions may gravitate toward Clinton. There are a variety of reasons people choose a candidate to vote for, and this is only the beginning.

If Trump does get elected, we fear for an America that digresses from all the progress it has made thus far.

If Trump does not become president, we fear that he won’t let it go, that he’ll do whatever it takes to blame it on a “rigged system.” Furthermore, even if he doesn’t win the election, it doesn’t automatically mean that people across the U.S. will forget about these instilled ideologies of immigrants, Mexico, women’s rights and

course, and this election has been nothing more than an “epidemic of worry,” as the New York Times described in an editorial they wrote last week. Anxiety is “coursing through American society,” and the editorial board notes that, among the less educated, anxiety of exploitation has come unleashed. Trump supporters are beginning to think that the societal system is rigged against them—an ideology that Trump has so deeply instilled in the brains of his followers.

While we stay completely unbiased in our articles, we do not want to hide the fact that we are not pleased with the campaign of Trump, and we wanted to make that clear with our opening letter. He is relying on a tactic of fear and offering it to the American citizens

who, unfortunately, lack a strong education. It’s not something personal, assome people choose to not attend university, while it is out of the question (for numerous reasons) for others.

People do not always take on these racist and homophobic ideologies on their own (and some will even claim that supporting him doesn’t mean they support these behaviors). More often than not, it is passed down, by the people they are surrounded with in life, and they adopt a reality from the people they trust—parents, friends, families—unaware of differing perspectives that make the topic so controversial. We chose to do a focus article on the election, both local and national, because there are some big decisions to be made the citizens of America, and even here in our blossoming city of Portland, Maine.

We need a president who will ensure that education is more valued in American society, and Clinton has made statements that she is willing to do just that. This means making it more affordable and accessible to people.

The President of the United States should be someone whom we can trust, someone we would want as a role model, a courageous leader, someone willing to make change in this world,and while it may not feel like we, as Millennials, have a voice in this election, we do, and we need to do everything we can to make sure our voices get heard.

4 October 31, 2016 | THE FREE PRESS

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Portland state Senate candidate talks key issues Cara DeRose Chief Copy-Editor While the country’s polarizing presidential race has attracted most people’s attention this election cycle, Portland’s local races should not be overlooked. After winning a hotly contested primary on June 14, State Representative Ben Chipman is the Democratic candidate vying for District 27’s state Senate seat, which represents Portland’s islands and the End End community. If he is elected, Chipman will succeed Democrat Justin Alfond, District 27’s current state senator and the state Senate minority leader, and potentially help Maine Democrats reclaim majority control in the state Senate.

Chipman’s political background is extensive. From 2002 to 2006, Chipman worked as legislative aid at the Maine State Legislature in Augusta, and in 2009, he was elected to the Portland Charter Commission. The commission was tasked with rewriting Portland’s charter, which is the document that dictates how the city is governed and determines how much power various city officials have. In 2010, after serving on the Portland Charter Commission for a year, Chipman ran as a Clean Election Fund candidate and was elected District 40’s state House representative, a position he has held for the past six years.

As a state House representative, he was the principal sponsor of a bill that sought to lower municipal campaign contribution limits, and the sponsor of a bill that sought to increase the minimum wage in Maine to ten dollars by 2018. Additionally, he voted for the bill that, had Gov. LePage not vetoed it, would have allowed a greater number of low-income adults between the ages of 21

and 64 to qualify for MaineCare.

Now, Chipman hopes to continue and expand on his work in the state Senate. His ideas are ambitious, but his ultimate goal is to effectively address Portland’s multifaceted problems, one of which being the housing crisis. Chipman believes Portland should focus on providing its residents with more affordable housing options, and argued that the city’s zoning regulations are hindering progress on this issue.

“We have these requirements that each housing unit be at least 400 square feet, and that there be at least 750 square feet of land per unit on the land. That doesn’t encourage density, and I’m not sure who’s served by those regulations,” Chipman said. “That’s something the city could address: getting rid of this minimum lot size for each unit. If someone has a small piece of land, and they can build ten small housing units on that land, then I say go for it. Have them be units that people can afford.”

Another problem he wants to address is MaineCare expansion. Although Gov. LePage vetoed the expansion bill Chipman voted for, Chipman believes that another bill for full MaineCare expansion should be put forward.

“I think we should try to do full [MaineCare] expansion again,” Chipman said. He noted that if Maine Democrats can pick up seats in the state House and win a majority of the seats in the state Senate, then they would have the votes needed to override another veto. But Chipman acknowledged that such an outcome is not guaranteed this November.

“If we don’t have the numbers to do a full expansion, then it’s time to sit down with our Republican colleagues who are not willing to support a full expansion and see what they are willing to support,” said Chipman. “May-

be look at doing a limited expansion for certain income levels or to cover certain health care services, like drug addiction treatment.”

Additionally, Chipman stated that college affordability and funding, particularly USM’s funding, are important issues that have an inordinate impact on young Portland residents who are, doubly, college students.

Chipman argued that the University of Maine System’s funding model needs to be updated.

“The model we use for distributing funds in the UMaine System is completely outdated. It’s this old model that says Orono has to do all the research, so it has to receive all this additional money to do all the research,” he explained. “Well, we can do research here [at USM] and ought to be partnering with local businesses to do research. We have the facilities. We have buildings with empty space.”

Chipman also mentioned that he wants to look at whether it is possible to have a state law that would require, or allow, people to refinance their student loans, which is currently not permitted in Maine. However, Chipman added that students “should not have the kind of debt they have in the first place,” and referenced a bill he sponsored in the state House that would have made university and community college in-state tuitions free for Maine’s residents.

“It was modeled after what thirteen other states do, where they have free in-state tuition,” he said. “States that have more money to work with, like Florida, but also states like Alabama. They find a way to make it work. Louisiana finds a way to make it work.

These are states that aren’t any better off than Maine necessarily, but they’ve found a way to prioritize higher education and found a way to pay for it.”

Chipman believes that Maine can achieve what these other states have, but success

Photo courtesy of Ben Chipman Chipman discusses his hopes to adress health care, tuition, and housing.

hinges on increasing the state’s revenue.

“We need to look at ways to increase revenue coming into the state to pay for higher education,” he said. “The lodging tax is still too low. That could be higher. We’re a tourist state: 25 percent of our economy is tourism.

With the new National Monument that was created in Maine, we have good reason to believe tourism is going to continue to grow.

There’s ways we could be getting revenue from tourists to cover the cost of making our state universities and community colleges tuition free for our residents. I’d like to revisit that.” news@usmfreepress.org @USMFreePress

Candidates of Maine’s 1st Congressional District election Sarah Tewksbury Contributor Lying in the shadows of a major presidential election, the race to fill the seat in the House of Representatives allotted to Maine’s 1st Congressional District has been dormant in the mainstream media.

In today’s world of characteristically apathetic voters, there has been low drive to understand the effect each voter has on local elections. Though Maine has historically had a higher voter turnout than the nation overall, many Maine voters are unaware of ballot items and local politicians that are running for office. One USM student did not know either of the candidates running for Maine’s 1st Congressional District.

The candidates vying for the seat, in-

cumbent Democrat Chellie Pingree and Republican challenger Mark Holbrook, have run intense campaigns, each relying on different strategies for success. For the lesser-known Holbrook, name recognition has been one of the main focuses of his campaign, while his opponent, who already has name recognition, has focused on being honest and straightforward about who she is and what she has stood for since taking office seven years ago.

Pingree has held the seat since January of 2009. She serves as vice chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and sits on the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations. Pingree supports local Maine businesses, women’s rights,equality in the workplace and health care reform. Pingree votes consistently with the Democratic Party.

Holbrook is a USM alumnus and holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from Fielding Graduate University. Besides serving as the chair of the Brunswick Republican Town Committee, Holbrook has never held a public office. But according to his campaign website, he has held positions as “a cop, a teacher, a lobsterman, a volunteer fireman, and a commercial diver.”.

Holbrook is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, immigration reform—in favor of higher control of who enters the United States—and of pro-life legislation. .

Information about each candidate is easily accessible, but campaign information about how each candidate has chosen to reach office is not. The journey and manner in which politicians carry themselves to office is often more important than voters realize, as it says a great deal about who

each candidate truly is.

Because she is a visible member of the Maine community, Pingree has the benefit of a public service record on her side.

Through this election cycle, she has participated in events more tailored towards a campaign, such as marching in parades and meeting local voters. Pingree has been able to trust in the authentic reputation she has built for herself during her four consecutive terms in office.

“Congresswoman Pingree is constantly in the public’s eye,” stated Pingree’s senior advisor, Willy Ritch. “She interacts with her constituents on a daily basis.”

Ritch said that the election would not be over until the last ballot is cast but that he “feels good about the level of support from people in Maine.”

Holbrook, however, has taken a different

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2016 Presidential candidates on the issues

Hillary Clinton (D) Krysteana Scribner Editor-in-chief The 2016 Presidential Election is upon us, and American Citizens continue to battle with the decision of who will be the next President of the United States, it’s important to analyze and understand the stance each viable candidate has held on particular issues that could highly influence the future of our country and its relations with the rest of the world.

Hillary Clinton, Democratic Presidential Nominee Clinton has offered perspective on issues that similarly reflect those of President Obama. While her deleted email controversy has given uprise to Trump’s label of “Crooked Hillary,” she arguably has a strong political background and a deeper understanding of the issues at hand. Clinton believes we need to have a comprehensive immigration reform that leads to a path of equal citizenship, rather than deport individuals. In regards to abortion, she believes that “the government has no right to interfere with a woman’s body and her choices over it.”

Her stance on gun laws shows the staggering statistic that over 33,000 people in America are killed by guns each year, and that in order to fix this problem, we must close the loophole on gun purchases and provide stronger background checks for those who wish to purchase weapons. When speaking on taxes, Clinton notes that “the wealthy pay the least amount of taxes,” and that America needs to provide tax relief for those who suffer in poverty and for middle-class Americans.

Clinton stands for an affordable college curriculum and higher focus on providing a world-class education to all students. For her stance on crime and safety, she argues that we must end mass incarceration and put body cameras on police for higher accountability access.

Donald Trump (R)

Jill Stein (G)

Gary Johnson (I)

On Foreign policy, Clinton differs from her Republican opponent. She never references wanting to end “radical Islam,” as we see Trump proclaiming, but rather wants to, “maintain a cutting-edge military, strengthen our alliances and be firm with our rivals, defeat ISIS, and enforce the Iran nuclear deal.”

While many are still looming under the uncertainty of her potential presidency after 30,000 of her emails were released from a private server, the investigation has since been “debunked.”

Clinton continues to hold a strong stance that supports “quality, affordable health care for all American Citizens, and hopes to increase American Energy by expanding the use of solar power energy to half a billion panels by 2020. She also believes that “supporting [our] veterans is a sacred responsibility” and plans to provide veterans with world-class health care and increase education opportunities in order to prevent veteran homelessness and suicide.

days before the due date of the child (another belief that is also incorrect). He supports the right to the second amendment to bear arms, and wants to “clean up the streets,” of violent criminals and provide a stronger array of mental health services to those who are in need.

In Foreign policy, Trump has proclaimed he wants to “make American safe again,” by destroying what he believes to be radical Islam. Although he wants to end the nuclear deal with Iran, he has also very casually and openly talked about using Nuclear weapons as a form of war. When analyzing his stance on taxes, he wants to cut the business rate by 15 percent and reduce the individual rates in three percentage brackets - 12, 25 and 33 percent.

While Trump himself noted that, “he knows a lot of wealthy people who aren’t paying their taxes and it’s unfair,” he himself has admitted to not paying his own, which he noted makes him “smart.” In 2014, Trump’s stance on global warming was that it was, “an expensive hoax,” but has since changed his perspective, noting that “all individuals deserve clean air and water.”

prescription drug prices and the overall costs that are often associated with healthcare. For criminal justice, she opposes jailing youth and would like to end the death penalty. She wants to cut military spending by 50 percent and cut off foreign aid to nations she deems to be “human rights abusers,” which consists of allies such as Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Donald Trump, Republican Presidential Nominee Trump as offered a controversial perspective on the election through his extreme stances on issues such as abortion rights, gun laws, immigration, foreign policy, and so on.

In regards to his stance on immigration, he wants to build a border at the wall between Mexico and the United States and deport all Muslims. He wants to enforce the system that allows immigrants to enter our country, as he believes they are flowing in illegally “like water.”

While Trump is pro-life, he also believes in de-funding planned parenthood after hearing controversial rumors that they sell babies body parts. While this was debunked, and statistically it is known that abortions only make up 3 percent of the services Planned Parenthood provides, he still continues to believe that abortions can be performed merely

Jill Stein, Green Party Presidential Candidate Stein believes in raising taxes for wealthy individuals and wants to cut taxes for poor and middle class Americans. She opposes unwarranted government surveillance, strongly supports the legalization of marijuana, and wants to guarantee tuition-free public education from pre-school to college for all American citizens. On climate change, Stein hopes to end the use of fossil fuels and begin a transition to 100 percent clean, renewable energy use by 2030.

On health issues, Stein would like to make free healthcare available to all in a “Medicare for All” program that requires no co-pays, premiums or deductibles. By eliminating private health insurance, she hopes to reduce

Gary Johnson, Libertarian Presidential Candidate Johnson, who accepted the nomination at the 2016 Libertarian Party National Presidential Nominating Convention in Orlando this past May, has a stance on political issues that both align and directly differ from both the Democratic and Republican nominee. When addressing concerns of education, Johnson thoroughly believes that it is in the best interest of young, learning minds to to move control of K-12 education from the federal level to the local and state level. On the topic of the American economy, he blames both idealized parties on the 20-trillion dollar deficit in national debt. In correlation, he opposes increasing taxes, especially on wealthy individuals, and hopes to keep the minimum wage at its current standing.

While he does note a belief in climate change, he doesn’t think rules and regulations should be implemented to slow it down if they will affect the current economy. On Foreign policy, he does not want to expand on military advancements and to instead focus on domestic partnerships. He is an opponent of gun control, he strongly supports all uses of marijuana and states that, “government should stay out of individuals healthcare concerns,” when addressing commentary on abortions and, from his perspective, a failed Obamacare campaign. news@usmfreepress.org @USMFreePress

6 October 31, 2016 | THE FREE PRESS

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Faculty call for “partnership among equals” for merged MBA program

Photos courtesy of UMO Website and USM image bank The University of Southern Maine (left) and the University of Maine Orono (right) are the two campus locations where the MBA program would merge.

Julie Pike Staff Writer The University of Maine System (UMS) is taking one of the first steps to create a more unified university system by attempting to combine the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs of USM and University of Maine at Orono (UMO).

The proposed plan is for the merged MBA program to be on the Portland campus, but what remains unknown by faculty is how that program will be run.

“The initial plan was that there would be one MBA program, being administered by UMO faculty,” said Thomas Parchman, chair of the USM Faculty Senate. The merger would affect students by changing their USM degree to a UMO degree.

A soft launch of the new MBA program has been slated to begin September 2017.

This would involve incorporating one or two additional courses into the already existing program at USM. The soft launch allows for students already enrolled in the MBA program to continue their courses of study.

“There has been some discussion about officially launching the program September 2018,” stated Susan Feiner, vice president of Associated Faculty of the University of Maine (AFUM), USM’s faculty union Chancellor of UMS James Page is at the head of this plan. Robert Heiser, the director of USM’s MBA program, stated that Page supports the degree being based out of Orono rather than Portland.

Faculty from USM are not happy with the proposed plan to merge the two programs and have expressed many concerns.

“Faculty on both campuses are concerned that the administration will take over the curriculum and governance in the merger,” Feiner stated in regards to the faculty’s take on the

plan.

Heiser stated that in the plan outlined by Page, the MBA program would be designed, administered and run out of the Orono campus, but the program would still continue at USM. “Imagine you’re taking classes in Portland with faculty that’s based in Orono,” Parchman added. “That just does not work out.”

Feiner states that graduate faculty at USM are worried that their programs will be taken over by UMO, which would cause USM to lose over one million dollars in revenue that the USM MBA program currently takes in.

“One of the biggest concerns for USM’s union is program discontinuation,” Feiner stated.

According to Feiner, there are contractual obligations that have to be fulfilled to close down a program, and she stated that those obligations have not been met.

The argument is also made by faculty that USM’s MBA is almost twice as large as that of UMO’s MBA program. USM’s program has about 75 students, while UMO’s program has approximately 40.

“Portland should be where the MBA program is,” Feiner stated. “The people are in Portland, economic opportunity is in Portland and Portland faculty should teach them.”

The two programs also differ in the types of students that they cater to.

“The UMO MBA program is primarily residential, full-time students,” Parchman stated, “while USM’s MBA program is primarily part-time students.”

Although faculty are not in agreement about how the plan is being administered, a majority of them support the decision to merge the two programs.

“Merging the two programs is not the problem,” stated Tara Coste, chair of the Graduate Council at USM. “The faculty not being equal

partners in the process is the problem.”

Coste stated that the current plan for the merger does not work in favor of faculty or students.

“In order for the USM faculty to agree with the model,” Coste stated, “there needs to be assurances that this will be a partnership between equals and that our student population needs will be met.”

The biggest decisions to be decided on for the plan would be the curriculum of the merged program and the governance of faculty.

“System level leaders want curriculum and governance to be worked out themselves, not by faculty,” Feiner stated.

The majority of faculty at USM do not agree with that statement.

“Curriculum and faculty governance must be determined by faculty,” Coste stated.

Feiner stated that in the contract that AFUM has for all UMS campuses, curricular development and faculty promotion and tenure are the prerogatives of the faculty, not administrative functions.

The biggest concern that faculty have about the proposed plan is how the merger will affect students.

“The students,” Coste stated, “and what’s best for them is job one.”

Feiner stated that the best way to ensure a good quality education for students is to have the input of the faculty.

“There is no one on this campus more committed to its students and their education,” said Feiner, “than the USM faculty.”

President Cummings and Provost Jeannine Uzzi have been working on the proposed plan with Page, along with the President Hunter and Provost Hecker of UMO. A series of agreements were made on Thursday, Oct. 20, and are intended to preserve faculty autonomy as the plan moves further.

“Hopefully going forward there will be much better communication,” Feiner stated.

Coste stated that from the perspective of faculty at USM, the only way they see a partnership working is if the merger would create a joint degree.

“We’re going to have to come to a model that maintains the integrity of both institutions and utilizes the resources we currently have in place,” Parchman added.

“We are trying to unify the curriculum between USM and UMO,” Heiser stated. “If successful, we can offer to switch a student’s degree to a UMO degree, while still taking classes on the USM campus.”

Many USM faculty are in support of offering a joint degree with the merged MBA programs. Faculty have also worked to push that idea forward.

“Ideas of how to effectively merge the two programs have been put forward, but the Chancellor has been reluctant with those ideas,” Parchman stated. “The faculty at USM have worked very hard to try to be a part of the process and to create a positive solution.”

The idea of the merged MBA program will be presented at a meeting with the UMS administration, Eliot Cutler and the Harold Alfond Foundation. The outcome of the plan depends on if the Alfond Foundation decides to support it.

After that outcome is released, faculty will then know how to move forward.

“It’s a question of whether or not the UMS is willing to invest in its human assets” Feiner stated. “If they are, then this might become a good thing.”

“We need to move forward to serve the students of the state of Maine,” Parchman stated.

“That’s what we need to focus on.” news@usmfreepress.org @USMFreePress

News From MBA on page 6

approach to campaigning than Pingree.

Over the past 20 months, Holbrook and his team of over 150 unpaid volunteers have worked nonstop to try to secure a win in the election. Working hard to spread information about his stance on major issues, Holbrook has traveled around the 1st District and has attended formal, as well as informal, events.

“This campaign has taken me around the district to every corner,” Holbrook

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Local & State LePage administration approves rule to ban food stamps for major lottery and gambling winners MAINE DHHS NEWS — Under a new rule established by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) last week, winners of significant lottery and gambling prizes will be removed from the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The rule, which has been approved for adoption, allows for immediate termination of benefits when a welfare recipient collects winnings of $5,000 or more in one calendar month. If the prize remains with the individual, it will continue to count as an asset that could disqualify someone from welfare because of the asset limit recently adopted by the LePage administration.

“This rule is consistent with recent Congressional reforms regarding the food stamp program and lottery winnings designed to ensure that this taxpayer funded benefit is appropriately support-

said during a phone interview. “I’m campaigning nonstop like this election is tomorrow morning and we’re thirty points down.

Sleep has become optional.”

Though both candidates have taken different approaches to the race, the most notable difference is the amount of funding.

Both campaigns have taken pride in their fundraising, yet the contrast in funding is significant. The Pingree campaign has spent roughly $229,000 this election

cycle, while the Holbrook nor Holbrook will give up campaign has raised only until the election is over. $100,000..

Regardless of party afThough Holbrook is do- filiation, it is important for ing all he can to win the voters to be aware and eduelection, the polling data cated about what they are suggests it might just not voting for on Nov. 8. Both be enough. Polling an av- campaigns urge voters to erage of 31 points ahead consider what electing one of Holbrook, Pingree has a or the other candidate will clear advantage. mean for the future of the By nature, each cam- entire constituency. paign is different, yet the goal is the same. With varying amounts of funding, access to the public and conflicting views on news@usmfreepress.org @USMFreePress the issues, neither Pingree

ing those who truly need the welfare assistance,” DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew said. “Just like when we limited the amount of assets someone could have while receiving welfare benefits, this change ensures individuals are not using the program when they don’t need it. It allows taxpayers to have faith in the system and know their tax dollars are going where they are most needed.”.

publicly as well as privately that Pennsylvania may be slipping away to Democrat Hillary Clinton. That would leave him only a razor-thin pathway to the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House on Nov. 8.

Despite continued difficulties with women and minorities, Trump refuses to soften his message in the campaign’s final days to broaden his coalition. Yet he offered an optimistic front in the midst of a three-day tour through Florida as thousands began voting there in person.

In more bad news for Trump, a new poll shows young voters turning to Clinton now that the race has settled down to two main candidates. Clinton now leads among likely voters 18 to 30 years in age by 60 percent to 19 percent, according to a new GenForward survey.

Young black voters already were solidly in her corner, and now young whites are moving her way, according to

National Trump rejects ‘phony’ polls and insists ‘we are winning’ BOSTON GLOBE — A defiant Donald Trump blamed his campaign struggles on ‘‘phony polls’’ from the ‘‘disgusting’’ media on Monday, fighting to energize his most loyal supporters as his path to the presidency shrinks.

The Republican presidential nominee campaigned in the battleground state of Florida as his team conceded

the survey by the Black Youth Project at the University of Chicago with the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

With Trump on the defensive, Clinton worked to slam the door on his candidacy in swing-state New Hampshire while eyeing a possible Democratic majority in the Senate.

The former secretary of state campaigned alongside New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan, who is running for the state’s Senate, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who was merciless as she seized on recent revelations of Trump’s predatory sexual language and several allegations of sexual assault. ‘‘He thinks that because he has a mouth full of Tic Tacs, he can force himself on any woman within groping distance,’’ Warren charged. ‘‘I’ve got news for you Donald: Women have had it with guys like you.’’ news@usmfreepress.org @USMFreePress

THE FREE PRESS | October 31, 2016 7

Police Beat Selections from the USM Department of Public Safety police log Oct. 19 to Oct. 21 10/19/16

The theft of a small razor Theft, University Way. Caller advised the theft of a small Razor scooter while on campus. Report taken.

As a student, you cannot enter this student building Paper Service, Luther Bonney Hall. Student served a trespass notice for residence halls.

10/20/2016

Ghost in Luther Bonney Security Alarm, Luther Bonney. Officer determined it was false alarm. All set.

10/22/2016

Look before you turn those corners Motor Vehicle crash, parking lot G4. Report of a vehicle crash in parking lot.

Who you gonna call?

911 call, 24 University Way. Officer investigating a hang up 911 call. Unfounded.

In the heat of the politics Suspicious incident, Upton Hastings Hall. RA reports a poster has been defaced. Officer took a report.

10/21/2016

Because we need a bigger parking garage Motor Vehicle crash hit and run, Parking Garage. Officer investigating, Report taken.

Shoulda coulda woulda chained it Theft, Glickman Library. Student reports the theft of his bicycle. Report taken 09/18/16

Police Beats are edited for grammer and style

8 October 31, 2016 | THE FREE PRESS

Arts&Culture

Maine’s cultural divide in politics / 9 Film review: Denial / 10 “No Sleep” podcast review / 10

“Time and Winds” concert an educational experience Performers and audience alike learn about the history of wind instruments Kelly Scrima Free Press Staff “Don’t feel like you’re trapped in a dark concert hall,“ said Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands Dr. Trae Blanco to the audience in attendance. “Time and Winds” was performed by members of USM’s Wind Ensemble, including Blanco, who played the harpsichord and conducted. The performance was held in Corthell Concert Hall on Sunday Oct. 23, at 2 p.m. The audience was encouraged to dance, to chat and to sing along to the pieces if they felt inspired to do so. If there was one thing to be taken from this concert, it was the kinetic, lively energy from the pieces, which mirrored Blanco’s encouragement of liveliness in the audience.

The concert brought the audience through time in regard to the history of wind instrument repertoire. Blanco broke the mold of the more traditional repertoire of a concert band. His music selection spanned centuries, and he said the concert was all about “context.”

Blanco attended a summer music camp whilst in high school, wherein he met George Parks, a professor at UMass Amherst, who sparked his interest in conducting. This is his first year with USM, and he says that he is enjoying his time thus far.

“Flexibility”, is the element Blanco says he enjoys most so far about working at USM. He remarks that he is “enjoying having the

Photo courtesy of USM Website Last week, the USM Wind Ensemble showcased their performance that highlighted the evolution of chamber winds in the 1900’s. The concert series opened with Tielmen Susato’s early work, “Selections from The Dansereye.”

opportunities to do various numbers of things in any conglomeration.”.

During the second piece, entitled “Double Dutch”

by David Biedenbender (b.

1984) and Jennifer MacDonald (b. 1986), the lights went down and a clip was played in the background. The short clip had monochromatic shapes, lines and patterns that moved across the screen with a static quality.

Justin Reyes, a member of the ensemble, states that Blanco is a great addition to the USM School of Mu-

Baird and Kate Bernier, took the spotlight in their pieces.

Baird played a wonderfully calm Luis Milan (b. 1500 and d.1561) piece. This piece was the oldest of the works performed and was wellplayed by Baird in a classical manner. Bernier performed a compelling work by Eugene Bozza. The performance was full of life and required an innate focus in regard to breath control.

Melody Hasbrouck, a music education major, “enjoyed the broad variety” performed by the ensemble. Mary Bernier, who is the mother of one of the performers, said she “liked the selections” and that it was interesting to hear “Trae Blanco and what he’s chosen to play.”

In regard to the future of the USM Wind Ensemble, Blanco says that they will continue to do more “experimental” music, and that he wants to get the ensemble involved in “some of the theatrics” that go into performing.

The ensemble, as suggested by Blanco, is headed in a rather exciting direction, and it will be intriguing to see where they go in the future.

Reyes says he hopes that the ensemble will resume touring parts of New England.

If you wish to check out other events hosted by the USM School of Music, and to keep up with what is happening with the USM Wind Ensemble, I highly suggest visiting: http://www.usm. maine.edu/music/events.

sic faculty. He believes that one of the leading institutions Alberto Dosman. He is an Blanco “has a plethora of of higher-learning in regard assistant professor of music ideas,” and “can take us to to to music in the New England and director of Choral Studies who joined the school fac“I enjoyed the broad variety of music ulty last year. Reyes believes Blanco is set to make the performed by the ensemble. “ that the same impressive progress that Dosman has made so far in his work at USM. Reyes and Blanco said - Melody Hasbrouck that their favorite piece from Music education major the performance was “The Threepenny Opera” suite

by Kurt Weill (b. 1900 and the next level for us to be na- region. Reyes also spoke of d.1950). Each piece had its tionally known as one of the the achievements of another own energy, and all ensemble leading schools of music.” fairly new professor to the members worked in harmony. arts@usmfreepress.org @USMFreePress USM’s School of Music is school of music, Nicholás The two soloists, Adam

Are you interested in Arts & Culture? Join the team, work from any location!

Visit usmfreepress.org/getinvolved for more information

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Arts & Culture

THE FREE PRESS | October 31, 2016 9

Portland an anomaly in Maine culture, rural areas less educated Johnna Ossie News Editor

high school there was a Gay Straight Alliance but people thought it was weird, and even I wasn’t in it because I feared people finding out about my own sexual orientation because of the attitudes people had towards queerness,” she explained.

Much of conservative political rhetoric is aimed at more rural communities. Gov. LePage’s campaign promised to bring business back to Maine, which gave hope to people in rural communities whose economies are lagging. He has also been quick to blame Maine’s problems on immigrants and people of color.

In rural Maine, where the communities are predominantly white, working-class people, this can foster an atmosphere of fear of losing jobs and money to supposed outsiders.

“I think one of the biggest differences between my high school and here is that there was such a lack of diversity back home that the minority groups weren’t really seen as normal so they weren’t given any thought,” Roberts said.

Dauphinais said she believe the difference in politics between Portland and other areas of Maine has a lot to do with the community structure.

“The diversity of people living in this small area, people are not only more interested in these ideals but also need to fight for them,” she said.

On the resistance to background checks for guns in more rural areas, Bird expressed, “Rural people are more likely to have grown up with guns, for example, so they are leery of gun control legislation. Hunting is a revered tradition among rural Maine residents, and often the way they obtain meat for themselves and family members.”

People in more urban communities may be thinking more of guns as they relate to violence, and may be thinking more about the current climate surrounding gun violence than hunting. Despite the state’s slogan, “The Way Life Should Be,” gun violence is prominent in Maine.

The Mainers for Responsible Gun Ownership website states that “between 2004 and 2013, 132 Maine residents were murdered with guns, and an additional 1,040 killed themselves with firearms…in 42 percent of all gun homicides committed in Maine in 2013, the perpetrator was a former or current intimate partner or family member of the victim.”

“I’m at a loss trying to think of any reason to be against background checks for gun ownership,” Dauphinais stressed. “With the amount of extreme and excessive violence that’s happened in this country, even within the last five years, to be against higher safety precautions in the sales of firearms is unfathomable.”

Portland is an anomaly when it comes to Maine culture, and one doesn’t need to travel far outside of Portland to realize that. Driving through Portland, the roads are lined with signs for Clinton, Stein and Johnson, with nary a Trump sign in sight. Only a short drive north will find lawns covered with Trump signs and signs urging voters to vote “No on 3,” the ballot initiative that would require background checks for all gun sales.

Residents of progressive Portland may find it difficult, if not impossible, to understand the ideology behind backing conservative candidates.

In 2014, many Portlanders watched in shock and dismay as the results of the gubernatorial election declared that Paul LePage had once again won. Out of the 16 counties in Maine, only Cumberland and Knox had a majority vote for Mike Michaud, the Democratic contender.

Earlier this month, a mural depicting Governor LePage donning a KKK uniform appeared along the Portland waterfront. It was eventually painted over, but replaced with a new mural reading, “Make Racists Afraid Again.”

Cumberland has the largest population of any county in the state, and Portland is Maine’s largest city hub. Portland also has the largest number of voters registered as Democrats. Though relatively small as a city, Portland is diverse compared to most of Maine, which is the second whitest state in the U.S. According to USM Sociology Professor Donna Bird, “In Maine and elsewhere, but particularly in Maine, the rural population tends to be older and less educated, also less ethnically diverse,” she said. “These characteristics, when combined, create a more conservative electorate.

Megan Dauphinais, a Portland local who attended Deering High School, said that she grew up in liberal areas of Portland “We [my mom and I] campaigned for John Kerry and there were always opportunities for getting involved with liberal parties,” she said. “I don’t really feel like I remember any type of voice for any republican right wing agenda, and anytime one did come up it was shot down.”

Molly Roberts, USM sophomore, who grew up in Harpswell and went to school in Topsham, noticed a major difference in diversity levels between those towns and where she lives now in Gorham.

“There was so little diversity at my high school,” she said. “Out of a class of over two hundred there were about three or four people of color and maybe one or two openly queer people besides myself. Almost everyone was white, straight and cisgender.”

Roberts said the lack of diversity made her arts@usmfreepress.org @USMFreePress feel nervous to talk about her identity. “At my

Troy R. Bennett / Bangor Daily News Earlier this month, a mural depicting Gov. Lepage donning a KKK uniform appeared along the Portland waterfront. It was eventually painted over, but replaced with a new mural reading, “Make Racists Afraid Again.” According to a USM Sociology professor, the rural population of Maine tends to be older and less educated, who are often more conservative.

Arts & Culture

10 October 31, 2016 | THE FREE PRESS

HEAV Y ROTATION

A&C Listings

WHAT CAUGHT THE EYES AND EARS OF OUR STAFF THIS WEEK

Denial offers fantastic cast with exceptional chemistry John Rocker, Staff Aaron Halls, Staff Denial is a biopic drama directed by Mick Jackson and is based off the book History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier with a script by David Hare. The film tells the story of Deborah E. Lipstadt (Rachel Weisz) an American university professor who is accused of libel by British historian David Irving (Timothy Spall) when she states him to be a Holocaust denier. Due to the English legal system putting the burden of proof on the accused it’s up to Lipstadt and her assembled legal team to prove Irving was deliberately lying in claiming the Holocaust did not occur.

What Did We Like?

J: The most fascinating part of this film was learning about the judicial system in Britain. In the beginning of the film we meet Anthony Julius (An-

drew Scott), who is a solicitor advocate, which is basically what we would consider a lawyer. His role in the film is to gather information with his legal team. He never speaks on behalf of his client in court.

Instead, Richard Rampton (Tom Wilkinson), a barrister, is the one who speaks .

Learning about these things makes the viewer feel more attached to Deborah more because we are learning about the legal system as the film progresses. The courtroom scenes were also great to watch, especially considering the great performances and well written dialogue.

A: This film has a fantastic ensemble cast, all of whom have great chemistry and deliver fantastic performances. Rachel Weisz is a standout as Deborah E. Lipstadt. Her character faces an intense internal conflict about how to deal with certain aspects of the court proceedings, and Weisz is able to convey this

well-made film.

A: I don’t really have any criticisms of Denial. There is a tiny scene that I feel might not have been necessary, but it makes sense within the context of the film so it does not affect any part of the film experience.

Who Do We Think Will Like This Movie?

Mick Jackson

internal confliction well, which brings a lot of emotional weight to the film.

Tom Wilkinson as Richard Rampton also stands out, playing the lawyer who leads Lipstadt’s legal team, and so does Timothy Spall, who plays David Irving.

What Did We Dislike?

J: Anyone looking for a compelling court drama or biopic will get the most enjoyment out of this film.

A: I would recommend this film to audience members both familiar and unfamiliar to the legal case surrounding Deborah E. Lipstadt as well as those interested in biographical and courtroom dramas.

The End Results: J: A Must See A: A Must See

J: This is the first time in a long time where I have difficulty finding problems arts@usmfreepress.org with a film. It’s simply a @USMFreePress

Find yourself No Sleep and awaken your inner horror fan Krysteana Scribner Editor-in-chief

With over 8 seasons of “No Sleep” stories to cycle through, it can be hard to know where to start. This blossoming podcast has over 25 episodes in each Season, which means hours of listening time. The descriptions of each feature are short, with titles like, “Her Last Call; Video Footage; Saying Goodbye to Victor,” and so on.

If you’re completely new to the “No Sleep” podcast, their website offers a tutorial on how to navigate episodes based on your particular interests. So don’t let Halloween be the end of your spooky fun!

With the Halloween season behind us, there are still ways to give yourself a scare. Listen to the “No Sleep” podcast, a horror-fiction centered podcast for adult listeners only. The podcast, based off the Reddit thread that surfaced in 2012 called “No Sleep,” became the creepy horror story hub for horror fans across the globe.

The idea for the podcast was to take the top stories from the “No Sleep” Reddit thread and turn them into audio books, so individuals across media platarts@usmfreepress.org forms could enjoy the stories. @USMFreePress

Monday, October 31 Longfellow’s Haunted House Maine Historical Society 489 Congress St. Starts 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 1 Spoken Word Open Mic Bull Feeney’s 375 Fore St. Starts 7:30 p.m. / Ends: 10:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 2 GRiZ State Theatre 609 Congress St. Starts 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 3 Karaoke Sea Dog Brewing Company 125 Western Ave. Starts 10:00 p.m.

Friday, November 4 First Friday Art Walk Rines Auditorium 5 Monument Square Starts 5:00 p.m. / Ends: 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 5 RENT 20th Anniversary Tour Merrill Auditorium 20 Myrtle St. Starts 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 6

No Sleep Podcast

What caught your eyes and ears this week? matthew@usmfreepress.org

The Couch Comedy Open Mic Empire 575 Congress St. Starts 8:00 p.m. / Ends: 10:30 p.m.

Want to submit an event? arts@usmfreepress.org

11 October 31, 2016 | THE FREE PRESS

Perspectives

Advising advice / 12 A millennial’s conscience / 12 Crossword and word search / 13

Our Opinion

Why is the millennial voter turnout so low?

River Plouffe Vogel Contributor Voter turnout in America is low, disappointingly low some would argue, when compared to other developed democracies. U.S. turnout in the 2012 presidential election was 53.6%, based on 129.1 million votes cast and an estimated voting-age population of just under 241 million people. It’s even lower in non-presidential elections.

However, there is much more to this than what meets the eye. Many countries with high voter turnout have compulsory voting laws.

Others automatically register citizens when they reach the age to vote, and some aggressively seek out eligible voters and register them. In America, voting is a constitutional right, but it is also a choice, and it’s up to the individual to exercise that right. Like a great deal of American ideologies, we place the full responsibility on the individual to hopefully register and vote. Let’s not to forget America’s long history of discriminatory voting laws, disenfranchisement, and propaganda that has kept many eligible voters out of the booths.

Even the day of the week we vote on prevents impedes some Americans from casting their vote. Finally, our election system is far from simple and accessible. After taking a closer look, judging our country ason a whole based onfor voter turnout in numbers and percentages doesn’t tell the full story.

Let’s take a look at one of the fastest growing group of American voters, that also has the one of the historically lowest voter turnouts:; Mmillennials. Millennials are usually defined asby being born between 1980 and 2000.

In the 2012 election, of the 72 percent of Mmillennials who say they voted, only 46 percent casted a ballot. Again, the possible reasons for why turnout has been so low for Mmillennials is more complicated then it may appear. First, I think a strong argument can be made that anyone who expects the lower age range of Mmillennials, like 18 year old’s, to show up and vote has clearly never been 18.

I’m not saying they don’t get out and vote, or that older people aren’t less politically involved, but at the age of 18 you’re basically the least dependable person on the planet. All jokes aside, expecting young adults to vote in elections in large numbers just doesn’t seem logical. Young people, especially young minority groups, are some of the most oppressed and disenfranchised. We have the highest rates of addiction, depression, suicide and, the list

goes on. For many youths still struggling to identify with themselves, their families, their culture and surrounding society, voting just doesn’t seem worth it. Yet, for all these vary same reasons and more young American from every corner and demographic of our nation are turning out to vocalizeshow their political opinions.

An entire generation of young Americans whose parents and grandparents had to fight for their right to vote are now going to have a greater opportunity to make their voices heard.

Young people have always taken strong political stances, and we are often on the frontlines.

In more recent years, our choices have become increasingly respected and sought after. Even though turnout was low in the 2012 election, many argue Obama would have never won without the Mmillennial vote. Women are also flexing their political muscles, and voting in historically high numbers.

In order to find out more, I took to the streets of Portland and USM to ask people if they vote or have voted and why they think our generation hasn’t always had the easiest time getting to the polls. Of 45 respondents ranging in ages 18 to 33, 42 had voted before. Of the remaining three, two were had just turned 18 and had not yet had the chance to vote. Although this study can’t speakbe conclusive to all Mmillennials in the Portland area, it was certainly promising.a very promising outcome.

Respondents answers to why they thought young people had low turnout varied, and all spoke to different life experiences and impressions on voting. A popular response was that young people feel detached from our political system and are too focused on college, social life, work or just getting that first car.

Another common response was young people often feel like their vote doesn’t count.

One of my respondents felt this way until a significant event, in their case 9/11, changed the way they felt about our country, its people and their responsibilities as a citizen. For others this significant life event was their first job, first house, first child or combination of the three that inspired them to try to take more control in politics.

Many people were surprised that Mmillennials had such a low average turnout. So many people in our generation started become politically aware in high school and relished the chance to cast their first votes. Talking about politics and social issues is less stigmatized by young people today, who are eager to have a political debate with their friends and family.

Angelina Smith / Design Assistant

Those of us that are lucky enough to receive a well-rounded education are usually given the tools to navigate the political atmosphere, even if that means we are still wandering around like a chicken without a head.

In conclusion, it’s hard to say why exactly Mmillennials often don’t turnout in high numbers, and it’s promising that this election looks to be different. For those of you reading carefully, you might have noticed I never mentioned who the third out of the three nonvoters where. That’s because it’s me. I know

I’m not supposed to be a respondent in my own survey, or talk about potential biases, but I’m also an example of a Millennial who contributes to low turnout.

Yes, I’m 23 years old and I haven’t voted one single time. Why? I honestly couldn’t tell you. I have no good reason, I have absolutely zero arguments or defenses for myself. If that doesn’t help shed light on this, then I don’t know what will. editor@usmfreepress.org @USMFreePress

12 October 31, 2016 | THE FREE PRESS

Perspectives

Advising Advice

A Millennial’s Conscience

Connecting Students to Staff and Services in Luther Bonney Nancy D. Griffin Contributor Nancy D. Griffin is the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs.

Last fall USM took valued student space on the first floor of Luther Bonney off-line for renovation. As I walked through the first floor, or attended meetings on the second floor, I could hear the pounding and banging coming from the construction. I would have staff, faculty and students come up to me and complain about the noise and the inconvenience of the renovation. It was difficult for students and others to hear that the construction work would lead to better space and better services for students. What a difference a year makes at USM! This year it is a joy to walk through the first floor of Luther Bonney and see so many students using the computers and the newly renovated student affairs space on the first floor. Students now have instant access to Advising, Student Financial Services, Admissions, Registration & Scheduling Services, Career Development and Community Engagement – all in the same shared space.

Not to mention the fact that right upstairs the students have access to Disability Services, Veteran Services, The Honors Program, Prior Learning Assessment and the Testing Center. If a student has a question or concern, all he/she has to do is go to Luther Bonney and a staff member will be available to assist.

Why did USM put time, energy and funds into this renovation and was it worth it? Was it worth it to our students to move offices from Payson Smith over to Luther Bonney and to move faculty out of the white houses and relocate them in Payson Smith? To start to answer these questions I think it is important to look at the working goals of USM. If you go to President Cummings webpage on the USM website you will see, in the upper right hand corner, a link to nine working goals. All staff and faculty are working to achieve these goals by the year 2020. Two of the most important goals (in my opinion) are as follows: 1. 80% of our students will state that at least one individual (staff or faculty) knows them well, supports them, and believes in them.

2. 72% of our students

Another U.S. Crime Against Humanity: On Yemen’s ‘Lake of Blood’

will simply be ignored beBryer Sousa cause of our lack of ethical will remain at USM be- Free Press Staff concern for Middle Easttween each school year.

I believe these goals The citizenry of Yemen — ern “unpeople” (a term coare the most important for a country officially known as coined by Professor Edward USM because they focus the Republic of Yemen, which S. Herman). The willfully on student persistence and occupies a geographically maintained blind eyes of our satisfaction. At the heart minute appendage connected elite print journals as well as of the decision to renovate to the Southwestern corner of goliath cable network based Luther Bonney and pull of- Saudi Arabia — has endured news agencies are rooted in fices together was the desire a relentless bout of bombings an American tradition much to make staff and services for nearly eighteen sequential more vulgar. That is to say, more available to students months now. Unsurprisingly, the national agenda-setting and easier to access. This when the Yemeni populace media organizations ensure past summer I stopped by endures numerous airstrikes the omission of Yemeni horthe Advising office and wit- in the nation-state’s capital, ror in a manner similar to that nessed a new student meet- Sana’a, as well as the moun- of the East Timorese genoing with an academic advi- tainous terrain throughout the cide that the U.S. supported, sor and a student financial countryside, we may rest as- fueled and funded during the services staff member in sured, as consumers of West- 20th century. The U.S. conthe same office. That one ern news outlets, that their tinues to play and has played moment showed me the terrorized existence will be the central role of enabler, informant and financier of value of the renovation. In ignored. one office we had two staff While it stands to reason the Saudi bombing campaign members helping one stu- that the carnage imposed that began a year-and-a-half dent. Having both of these upon those living in Yemen ago. services side-by-side in the same space saves the student time and provides better service.

To all students, please stop by and connect with all of the staff and services in Luther Bonney (first and second floors). It won’t take much of your time.

The staff are H2H – Here to Help. Please know that our goal is to support and assist you in reaching your goal – getting that degree!

editor@usmfreepress.org @USMFreePress

Yet the magnitude of dismay brought about by the Saudi-led cascade of repetitious bombings that transpired on Saturday, 8 October 2016 were so deadly and impactful that the screams of the men, women and children incinerated by modern weapons of war were metaphorically heard around the world.

Consequently, the American press was cornered into a position of forced acknowledgment of the blunder (more honestly, the war crime) by way of offering a semblance of commentary. With sporadic reports embedded within the inner pages of various newspapers, these bombing marked the deadliest day in Yemen’s civil war...

Read the rest online: usmfreepress.org

Puzzles Crossword

THE FREE PRESS | October 31, 2016 13

The solution to last issue’s crossword

Sudoku Level of difficulty: Easy The object of a sudoku is to fill in the remaining squares so that every row, every column, and every 3 × 3 box contains each of the numbers from 1 to 9 exactly once.

Word Search Theme: Halloween

Cryptogram Every letter in a cryptogram stands for another letter. Use the hint to crack the code.

Search for the list of words in the grid of letters.

Grab a pen and circle each word as you find them.

Halloween October autumn candy chilly costume fall fun haunted leaves mask night party pumpkin scary spooky treat trick

KOEDS LUR LDX HDR TUYTL RKO RUXEVHI UYJ, OLD OKR BVJ JU KHORDX, “OUBK OU IUUS.” And here is your hint: E = K

14 October 31, 2016 | THE FREE PRESS

USM Community Page The Deaf cultural experience Mary Ellen Aldrich Community Editor There’s a community that many know of, but not about.

This community is spread across four major areas, Portland, Greater Portland, Lewiston-Auburn, and Bangor.

It’s a community consisting of its own language and culture.

Members of this community experience the world in a way many people will never understand. This community can be described as a group or collection of people striving to do their best every day.

They’re a very passionate, but very oppressed, community.

They have a common struggle, a common connection.

They’re like one big family.

The only thing that members of this community can’t do, is hear. This community is the Deaf community.

There are some terms and acronyms used in reference to Deaf culture that not everyone knows. The first would be ASL, or, American Sign Language. This is the official language of the American Deaf community. A common acronym is CODA, meaning Child of a Deaf Adult, which is used in reference to hearing children of Deaf parents.

Also used in Deaf culture is the capitalization of the ‘D’ in Deaf. Because Deaf culture is indeed a culture, not just an absence of hearing, it’s capitalized much like ‘American’ or ‘Chinese’ would be. If just speaking about the medical absence of hearing, a lowercase ‘d’ is used.

Because of the cultural and language differences between the hearing and Deaf communities, meeting someone from the Deaf community can sometimes be daunting.

Darleen Hutchins, an Ed Tech III and USM alumni, is a member of the Deaf commu-

nity. She shared some tips for meeting a Deaf person for the first time. “Everyone has different communication needs,” Hutchins said. “Not all Deaf people are the same. Some speak fluently, some don’t.

Some sign fluently, some don’t. There’s a wide variety of different people. Don’t be afraid to try and communicate, just follow the lead of the Deaf person.”

Both the hearing and Deaf communities have many misconceptions about people in these communities. There are struggles that Deaf people face that most hearing people don’t even think of. Going to the movies is one such struggle. Most places don’t have closed captioning, and the few that do aren’t always great. Even when places have closed captioning, it’s never available during the first week or two. By the time closed captioning is available, many people have already gone to see the movie and are done talking about it.

Sometimes the devices used for closed captioning don’t work, are broken or the batteries are dead. Hutchins recently had an experience with this when she took her son, a CODA, to see the Batman v Superman movie.

When Hutchins and her son went to see the movie, she requested closed-caption glasses. The glasses didn’t work and Hutchins missed out on experiencing that movie with her son and having the conversations that follow. The theatre gave Hutchins free movie passes as compensation, but free tickets don’t replace that experience.

In classrooms, hearing people can listen to the lessons and lectures with ease in most cases, whereas a Deaf person relies on an interpreter. When in groups that don’t provide

Community Events ■ Monday, October 31 Just-For-Fun Singing USM Portland Campus Location Woodbury Campus Center Amphitheatre Starts: 5:00 p.m. / Ends 6:00 p.m.

■ Tuesday, November 1 Photo courtesy of Lauren Rigdon Miranda Muttillo (right), an senior interpreting student and employee of the ASl lab, is tactile signing with Ona, a deafblind at the Deaf Culture festival in September.

an interpreter, Deaf people miss parts of the conversations. When they ask for clarification, they don’t always get a helpful response.

“People often say ‘nevermind, it’s not important,’” Hutchins said.

Hearing people will often times assume that everyone present heard what was said.

“It’s kind of funny when they say ‘what’s wrong with you, are you deaf?’” Hutchins said, “and you say ‘yes’, it’s funny to see their reaction.” While this can be funny at times, not everyone sees it that way.

Hearing people don’t need to think about going to the movies, the theatre, a class or a public event in the same way that Deaf people do.

There are very few places that are ASL accessible. But the Deaf community doesn’t need pity. They’re a proud community and rightfully so.

What they need is for hearing people to understand that they will never understand the Deaf world. “Plugging your ears doesn’t make you understand what it’s like to be Deaf,” Hutchins said.

Hutchins believes that it would be helpful if everyone at USM took ASL classes, not only to easily communicate

with members of the Deaf community, but in the event that they could become deaf or have deaf children later in life. Hutchins noted that “it also supports learning English.” Hutchins made the point that some commonly misunderstood words in English aren’t so easily misunderstood in ASL. “Their, there and they’re,” Hutchins said, “all sound the same in spoken English. But in ASL they’re visibly different.”

The Deaf community around USM and the Portland area is large. There are several Deaf faculty and some Deaf students as well. There are events around campus involving the Deaf community, many put on by the ASL Lab on Exeter Street. The Maine Deaf Culture Festival is a big event for the Deaf community as well. There are definitely many opportunities to learn about the Deaf community and ASL, as USM prides itself in producing some of the nation’s top ASL interpreters, something that wouldn’t be possible without the Deaf professors teaching the classes. editor@usmfreepress.org @USMFreePress

Reading Nature: Landscapes and Literature USM Portland Campus Location Luther Bonney Room 310 Starts: 4:10 p.m. / Ends 6:40 p.m.

■ Wednesday, November 2 Improv Class Show USM Lewiston-Auburn Campus Location LAC Room 170 Starts: 2:00 p.m

■ Thursday, November 3 Kickball USM Gorham Campus Location Costello Sports Complex Field House Starts: 8:00 p.m. / Ends: 10:00 p.m.

■ Friday, November 4 Portland Piano Extravaganza First Parish Church 425 Congress Street Starts: 7:30 p.m.

■ Saturday, November 5 “Skyscapes” with Rob Byrd USM Portland Campus Location Southworth Planetarium Starts 7:00 p.m. / Ends 8:30 p.m.

■ Sunday, November 6 Student Recital: Helena Crothers-Villers USM Gorham Campus Location Corthell Hall Starts: 5:00 p.m.

Want us to include your event? maryellen@usmfreepress.org

15 October 31, 2016 | THE FREE PRESS

Sports

Friday

Friday

Saturday

Saturday

Saturday

Women’s Ice Hockey vs. UNE 4:00 p.m.

Men’s Ice Hockey at Norwich 7:00 p.m.

Wrestling at BSU 2:00 p.m.

Women’s Ice Hockey at UMass Boston 1:00 p.m.

Men’s Ice Hockey at St. Michael’s 4:00 p.m.

Unified Sports with the Huskies Erin Brown Sports Editor Members of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) spend Sunday nights in a pretty spectacular way. Student athletes from USM come together with athletes from Special Olympics Maine Cumberland County to host a Unified Sports event showcasing a different sport every Sunday night. SAAC officer Lauren Lessard and SAAC advisor

different sports entail. It also allows different members from different teams at USM to offer pointers and insights of their own sports.

This past week’s lesson was on the sport of volleyball. USM’s women’s volleyball team came out in full force to facilitate the event and teach athletes the different skills and techniques of volleyball.

The night started out with dynamic stretching then some warm ups and skill exercise where the students taught the basics of volleyballs to all athletes. The second half of the

“We’re always looking for new volunteers and it’s a great way for USM students to give back. It’s also a great way for students in education... to get hands on experience...”

- Elizabeth Mackie Special Olympics of Maine Cumberland County Area Manager Samantha Allen pitched the idea at a Special Olympics Maine coaches meeting earlier this fall and the partnership was born.

The program alternates sports throughout an eight-week drop-in session to allow athletes to get an idea of the drills and skills that

evening was spent playing games and a “king of the court” type tournament.

Words of encouragement, high-fives and laughs were all you could hear throughout Hill gymnasium. The energy was so warm and inviting that it was no surprise everyone

in attendance had a smile beaming from their face during the entire night.

Elizabeth Mackie, the Special Olympics of Maine Cumberland County Area Manager, comes to the event every week as well.

Mackie integrates herself into the drills and games, enjoying the fun, but also working as an interpreter for some of the athletes.

“Cumberland County has quite a few Unified Programs that are more recreational in nature. This program has allowed our athletes more skills development in relation to the sports and has allowed them more one on one support during the skills training with the abundance of USM partners,” Mackie said about the program. Mackie also spoke about how the unified program has already gone so well, that they have plans to continue the partnership in the spring, but this time working on the social aspects of sports such as being a teammate.

Several SAAC cabinet members are part of the volleyball team including, President Mo Raymond, Vice President Robbi Termentozzi and Public Relations Coordinator Nicole Schmitz.

All three were extremely active throughout the evening with engaging athletes, setting up drills, facilitating the teams. All three, and the rest of the SAAC cabinet, have been focused on creating a partnership with the Special Olympics for a while now.

President Raymond, a junior, said, “We’ve been talking about working with the Special Olympics since I was a freshman and we’ve been trying to work our way in to find a good schedule for all athletes to participate. This was the first year we were able to do Sunday

nights so we had to take the opportunity and so far it’s been really good.”

The members talked about the importance of why they chose to style the program the way they did. Raymond talked about the feeling of unity that the athletes who participate get out of the program saying, “It’s definitely important for everyone to feel like they’re apart of a team and that’s probably the best part of being on a team.”

Vice President Termentozzi talked about how much SAAC enjoys getting themselves involved to benefit the surrounding community and knew Special Olympics was another great program for them to get into.

Termentozzi also said, “It makes a huge difference in their lives to see and get skills from players, because they can take away these skills when they’re playing volleyball down the road and they can go on to teach teammates of theirs how to hit or to set the ball.”

Mackie talked about the importance of these student athletes who are volunteering their time on Sunday nights and how vital they are to Special Olympics Maine.

“We’re always looking for new volunteers and it’s a great way for USM students to give back. It’s also a great way for students in education, occupational and physical therapy, and psychology students to get hands on experience with some of the populations they may work with in the future, as well as learning about and possibly making contacts with local agencies for future employment.” erin@usmfreepress.org @eriiinbrooownnn

THIS WEEK IN SPORTS

Photo courtesy of USM Athletics Website (Left): Southern Maine MCC won the little east conference championships last week. (Right): Southern Maine MIH shut out the Wentworth season opener 2-0.